Dwarf Japanese Maples for Full Sun

The foliage of ’Adrian’s Compact’ is predominantly burgundy but is highlighted by the bright red of the new leaves. Fall color is very good for a small tree with mixtures of orange and red.    10 Year Size:  Height:  4-5 Feet   Width: 3-4 FeetSpring Color: RedSummer Color: BurgundyFall Color: RedSun Tolerance: FullPlanting: Elevated, Well Drained

Acer palmatum ‘Aka kawa hime’ is a dwarf coral bark Japanese maple. If you are looking for a coral bark that won’t get any taller than 6 feet, then look no further. ‘Aka kawa hime’ will have all the characteristics of a regular coral bark Japanese maple such as ‘Sango kaku’ but at a fraction of the size. ‘Aka kawa hime’ will maintain a short, bushy habit. ‘Aka kawa hime’ is the perfect coral bark Japanese maple for any small space in the yard.

Acer palmatum ‘Alpine Sunrise’ is a dwarf Japanese maple that emerges in spring with bright red foliage. This color fades somewhat in the summer before the leaves change back to a bright red in the fall. ‘Alpine Sunrise’ has a dense shrubby habit commensurate with most witches broom varieties.10 Year Size: Height: 4-6 feet Width: 4-6 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Anna’s Broom’ is a dwarf Japanese maple with uniquely shaped leaves. The leaves are much more divided than most dwarf varieties of this style. These leaves emerge bright red in the spring before maturing to a burgundy in late spring. By summer, most of the leaves turn to a dark green. Late summer then brings more bright red new growth. The foliage then turns bright red again in the fall. ‘Anna’s Broom’ has a very tight compact habit similar to most other varieties originating from witches brooms. 10 Year Size: Height: 2-4 Feet Width: 2-4 Feet

Acer palmatum ‘Beni shidare’ is one of the most pendulous varieties we grow. It has deep purple red color in spring and maintains its color well into summer before turning bronze and then green. Fall color is  bright red and striking. This is probably one of the oldest red dissectum forms, as the name simply means red cascading, at one time all red weeping forms were given this name. Over time a superior clone must have been selected and remains in production today. Very old plants with this name still exist in Japan that are over 15  feet tall and 20 feet wide.10 year size:  Height: 3-4 Feet    Width 5-7 Feet

Acer palmatum ‘Dragon Tears’ is a semi-pendulous tree that grows more out rather than up or down. ‘Dragon Tears’ will get some height, but its growth habit will result in a tree that is at least as wide as it is tall. ‘Dragon Tears’ has small, deeply divided, broad leaves. These leaves have a nice, deep burgundy color in the spring. The leaves will fade somewhat in the summer, but should always maintain at least a hint of burgundy. The the fall, ‘Dragon Tears’ displays a nice orange-red fall color that will put on a show. 10 Year Size: Height: 6-8 feet Width: 6-8 feet

‘Elizabeth’ is another great little witches broom discovered by Ed "Skeeter" Rod and named for his wife Elizabeth, this small tree should have a place in every garden. Although fast growing when young this plant slows down when older staying very compact. New growth is bright red and very vivid. Older foliage is more maroon. Color holds well into the summer even in hot climates. 10 year size: Height: 4-5 Feet   Width: 3-4 Feet  

Acer palmatum 'Ever Red' is one of our favorite lace leaf varieties. What makes 'Ever Red so great is the color changes it goes through during the season and the sturdy growth habit. Starting with silver hairs on the leaves when they first come out in spring, then the wonderful red color through spring and early summer, changing to a nice dark green in summer and then flaming red in fall. ‘Ever Red’ is a truly wonderful maple. 10 Year Size: Height: 4-6 Feet Width: 6-8 Feet

Acer palmatum 'Fireball' is a fantastic little witches broom.  This aptly named little cultivar really packs a punch. The exciting bright red foliage of early spring lasts well into the summer even in hot climates. This tough little guy even tolerates full sun in all but the hottest climates where a break from the afternoon sun is appreciated. Fall color is red and absolutely delightful. Most literature credits David Verkade, an 8th generation horticulturalist who has discovered and named many awesome cultivars himself, with discovery of this fantastic little plant. Dave however gives credit where credit is due and will be the first to tell you that this witches broom was found by his father John Verkade in the 1980's. 10 Year Size: Height:  2-3 Feet    Width:  2-4 Feet Spring Color: Red Summer Color: Red Fall Color: Red Sun Tolerance: Full Planting: Elevated, Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum 'Firecracker' is a red dwarf Japanese maple with lacy leaves. 'Firecracker' emerges in the spring with bright red leaves. These leaves will fade somewhat in the summer before turning bright red again in the fall. 'Firecracker' is a dwarf Japanese maple that will grow with a weeping habit.  10 Year Size: Height: 4-6 feet   Width: 4-6 feet 

Acer palmatum 'Firefall' is a red dwarf Japanese maple with lacy leaves. These finely dissected leaves are quite red in the spring and even hold most of the red color into the summer. After darkening some in the hotter summer months. 'Firefall' transitions to a bright red during the fall. 'Firefall' is a weeping variety of Japanese maple that will not get very big. 10 Year Size: Height: 4-6 feet   Width: 4-6 feet

Acer palmatum ‘Hime Shojo’ is an awesome little Japanese maple discovered in Japan before 1994 that is a really exciting addition to the U.S. market. While the new growth is a very bright almost cherry red the small deeply divided leaves soon harden off to the classic dark maroon that the Japanese refer to as shojo. This continues much of the summer, although a relatively small plant, 'Hime shojo' seems to put on bright red new growth much of the year. This dense little shrubby tree holds its color very well long into the summer and even all summer long in cooler parts of its range. Although the best colors are achieved in full sun, and it will tolerate full sun in most areas, a little shade at some part of the day is appreciated in hotter climates. Fall color is a bright cherry red and better than many small cultivars. Its small size and attractive foliage makes it a wonderful addition to any garden and even does well in containers.10 Year Size: Height:  3-5 Feet    Width:  3-6 Feet

Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime' is a Fantastic Compact Dwarf Japanese Maple Perfect for Small Landscapes, Containers, and Bonsai Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime' is a compact dwarf Japanese maple that will grow much wider than tall. For a plant that never gets much more than 2 feet tall 'Kiyohime' is relatively fast growing and will become a specimen in the garden after just a few years. The dense and lateral growth habit make 'Kiyohime' almost look like a table at maturity. The size and shape make 'Kiyohime' a perfect companion Japanese maple for different spaces in the landscape. 'Kiyohime' emerges in spring with red tips to the leaves before turning green for the majority of the spring and summer. These green leaves are very small, star shape leaves that help to expand on the compact and dense look of the overall foliage. Fall color ranges from bronze to orange. Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime' is a hardy tree that can be grown in basically any climate in the United States. 'Kiyohime' will thrive in zones 5 through 9. 'Kiyohime' can be grown in full sun in all but the hottest climates. In warmer areas 'Kiyohime' would appreciate some protection from the hot afternoon sun. 'Kiyohime' does not require a great deal of sunlight and can be grown in mostly shade in pretty much any climate. Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime' is a perfect dwarf Japanese maple for bonsai for a number of reasons. The growth habit of 'Kiyohime' may make it look like small shrub in the ground but in a bonsai pot 'Kiyohime' looks like the miniature version of a full size tree. The small leaves of 'Kiyohime' help to create this effect as well. The natural density will also contribute to this affect and will require minimal pruning and attention. What is the 10 Year Size of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Height: 2-4 feet Width: 4-6 feet What is the Spring Color of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Green What is the Summer Color of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Green What is the Fall Color of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Orange What is the Leaf Shape of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Small Broad Leaf What is the Sun Tolerance of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Partial Sun What Growing Zones are suitable for Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Zones 5-9 What is the Shape of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Dwarf Japanese Maple What is the Growth Rate of Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'? Moderate Growing Dwarf Japanese Maple How should Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime' be planted? Elevated in Well Drained Soil

Acer palmatum ‘Miss Piggy’ is One of the Most Unusual Dwarf Japanese Maples that we Grow at Maple Ridge Nursery Acer palmatum ‘Miss Piggy’ is a dwarf tree with sturdy branching and bunched up leaves that are caused by fasciations at the tips of the branches. This means that the branches have actually fused together. These fasciations are more commonly seen in conifers and are extremely rare in Japanese maples. The leaves can sometimes grow so close together that they completely encircle the branches. When this occurs, you can look straight down the branch and see a perfect ring of leaves that almost make it look like an eye. 'Miss Piggy' doesn't get very big, maturing to only about 5 or 6 feet tall, but it is a fast grower especially for a dwarf Japanese maple. ‘Miss Piggy’ has small palmate leaves that are light green in the spring and darken just a bit in the summer. In the fall the leaves turn an attractive orange and red. 'Miss Piggy' can handle a good bit of sun in all but the hottest climates where it would need at least some shade in the afternoon. The small green leaves of 'Miss Piggy' will be a lighter green if it is grown in more sunlight or a darker green if it is grown in more shade. 'Miss Piggy' is a hardy dwarf Japanese maple and can be grown in zones 5 through 9. What is the 10 Year Size of Acer palmatum 'Miss Piggy'? Height: 4-6 feet Width: 2-4 feet What is the Spring Color of Acer palmatum 'Miss Piggy'? Light Green What is the Summer Color of Acer palmatum 'Miss Piggy'? Green What is the Fall Color of Acer palmatum 'Miss Piggy'? Orange to Red What is the Leaf Shape of Acer palmatum 'Miss Piggy'? Broad Leaf What is the Sun Tolerance of Acer palmatum 'Miss Piggy'? Partial Sun What Growing Zones are suitable for Acer palmatum 'Miss Piggy'? Zones 5-9 What is the Shape of Acer palmatum 'Miss Piggy'? Upright and Compact Japanese Maple What is the Growth Rate of Acer palmatum 'Miss Piggy'? Fast Growing Dwarf Japanese Maple How should Acer palmatum 'Miss Piggy' be planted? Elevated in Well Drained Soil